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"A" is a preposition which is often translated as "to", and "avanzar" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to advance". Learn more about the difference between "a" and "avanzar" below.
a, la a(
ah
)A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g., He ran through the door.).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Podía respirar a duras penas.He was hardly able to breathe.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¡A fregar los platos!Go do the dishes!
¡A la cama!Off to bed!
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Me encantaría ganar dinero a espuertas.I would love to earn lots of money.
Llovía a cántaros.It was pouring.
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
An abbreviation is the shortened form of a word or group of words (e.g., "UFO" = "unidentified flying object"; "p." = "page").
a. A
El circuito transporta una corriente de 1 A.The circuit carries a current of 1 A.
La intensidad de la corriente eléctrica se mide en A.The intensity of an electric current is measured in A.
avanzar(
ah
-
bahn
-
sahr
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to advance
Los civiles pudieron escapar antes de que el enemigo avanzara por la ciudad.The civilians managed to escape before the enemy advanced on the city.
b. to move forward
La cola para el concierto era larga, pero avanzaba bastante rápido.The line for the concert was long, but it moved forward quickly.
2. (to improve)
a. to progress
El comienzo del proyecto fue lento, pero ahora avanza a buen paso.The project was slow to get under way, but now it's progressing at a good pace.
b. to make progress
Empecé a correr hace poco y he avanzado mucho: corro cinco km en media hora.I started running a while ago, and I've made a lot of progress: I run five km in half an hour.
a. to draw on
A medida que avanzaba la noche, la luna y las estrellas atravesaban el cielo.As the night drew on, the moon and the stars moved across the sky.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
4. (to move)
a. to advance
El maestro de ajedrez siempre avanza sus caballos primero.The chess master always advances his knights first.
b. to move forward
Si tienes frío, puedes avanzar el sofá un poco hacia la chimenea.If you feel cold, you can move the couch a bit forward towards the fireplace.
5. (to propose)
a. to put forward
La cámara de comercio avanzó un plan para desarrollar el turismo en ese país.The Chamber of Commerce put forward a plan to develop tourism in that country.
avanzarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
6. (to take unlawfully) (Central America) (Mexico)
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Regionalism used in Mexico
a. to steal
El pobre se avanzó una barra de pan porque estaba hambriento.The homeless man stole a loaf of bread because he was starving.
